The number of times Jake VonDielingen has taken a baseball diamond throughout his life can only be estimated.

However, the reason always has been clear — and all the work paid off Friday afternoon when the Trinity Lutheran High School senior signed a letter of intent to continue his playing career for the University of Indianapolis.

“It’s a dream come true and it’s why you play,” the future Greyhound said shortly after signing the letter with his parents Matt and Beth by his side. “It’s all about advancing to the next level and a lot of hard work that has paid off.”

VonDielingen will pitch for the NCAA Division II program, which is a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference. The program has won more conference titles than any school in the GLVC’s history.

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He is one of seven to sign early with the Greyhounds for the 2019 season and the third from Indiana.

Having his father next to him during the ceremony was special not only because of the support from a parent, but because Matt VonDielingen is Trinity’s coach. He finished up his first season as coach this past spring and will coach Jake for his senior season.

“He coached me all the way through middle school, so the only year I didn’t have him as my coach was my freshman and sophomore year,” he said. “He is kind of what I’m used to as a coach.”

Matt said seeing his son continue his playing career at a higher level is something he is proud of because he has seen all the work his son has put into it.

“It’s very exciting and this is something he’s worked his whole life for and finally being able to see the fruits of his labor is exciting,” he said. “I look back at all the fun times we had during the coach-pitch days when they were all just little kids and playing together and we were literally out there playing 80 games a year and just had a great time back then

“To be there through all of that makes me want to go ask U. Indy for a job for the next step,” he joked. “It’s been really special to be a part of it.”

Jake has pitched for most of his career, but took on the role as catcher since the team needed one.

“He played all nine positions growing up and when he got here they needed a catcher, even though he wanted to pitch, because that is what the team needed,” Matt said.

Jake said he looks forward to routinely pitching for his club in Indianapolis.

“I love pitching and just having the ball in my hand at all times,” he said.

VonDielingen will take his fastball, curveball, slider and changeup with him for the Greyhounds.

He said the coaching staff he will learn under was a big draw for him in his decision to join the university’s pitching staff.

“I just really like coach (Al) Ready and coach (Gary) Vaught and I like the new pitching coach, coach (Landon) Hutchison, they brought in,” he said. “They have a really rich history of winning.”

As far as academics, he plans to study marketing.

Playing with his teammates at Trinity is something he will look back on positively because his teammates have a special bond.

“I’ve really enjoyed it and really love the guys I’ve been playing around,” VonDielingen said.

Jake said he plans to approach college baseball the same way his has approached playing each of the many times he has taken the field throughout the years.

“I’m going to put everything I have into it and hopefully good results will come out of it,” he said.